Bio of Bill Parlatore

With extensive experience on all kinds of cruising powerboats, I founded PassageMaker, The Trawler & Ocean Motorboat Magazine, with Laurene, my wife. Together we created the niche publication dedicated to the trawler community, for many years viewed as the “bible” of the cruising community. We also introduced the popular TrawlerPort, an event series within an existing boat show. The standalone Trawler Fest was the natural progression of our efforts to encourage and educate those interested in cruising under power and to celebrate the cruising lifestyle.

I began as a sailor and love sailboat cruising as well. I have been lucky to spend many years traveling the world and its oceans on cruising powerboats of every shape and size, from mega to mini, meeting interesting people and cultures on every continent. I remain the niche’s biggest advocate. Growler, our Zimmerman 36, was well known in the cruising community, recognized in every port, whether leading the Bahamas Pokie Run or on any number of trips between New England and the Florida Keys.

I contributed my rich experience to the Denis Umstot's excellent fourth edition of Voyaging Under Power. In addition to my travels at sea and on inland waterways, I was a long time member of the Safety at Sea committee at the U.S. Naval Academy, and I served on the Board of Directors of the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC).

I am a regular member of the Ocean Cruising Club and the Annapolis Yacht Club, where I am chair of the Communications Committee.

For several years, Laurene and I cruised aboard our 41-foot power catamaran, Spitfire, along with our beloved rescue faux golden, Annie.

We stepped ashore for the last couple of years to do some land adventures, replacing Spitfire with Blue Angel, our speedy Hunt Harrier 25.

But the call of the sea is strong, and I am back, and I see that many of today's cruising designs have moved beyond the realm of traditional trawlers. Preferring simpler boat concepts, I dream of a greener, more efficient passagemaker that takes many of the lessons learned by forward-thinking designers, in a motorboat that adds affordability to efficiency and economical operation.

I wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas. If there is something you would like to know more about, contact me and let's share the discovery...

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